DAVV Indore to be upgraded as World Class University

Source: The Hitavada Date: 11 Mar 2017 11:04:04

By Ankita Garg,

WITH an aim to allow highest levels of global excellence in teaching and research, State Higher Education Department proposes to upgrade Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya (DAVV), Indore as World Class University. The Department has already released advertisement for appointing consulting agency for the same.

Additional Secretary of Madhy Pradesh Higher Education Department Viran Singh Bhalavi had invited ‘expression of interest from eligible consulting firms to assist in developing DAVV into a world class university’. He said consultant will be selected in accordance with quality and cost based selection method in accordance with the policies of Government.

In recent Standing Committee Meet of universities, Vice Chancellors discussed establishment of world class institute on recommendation of University Grant Commission (UGC). Government had already formed a committee about the establishment and decided to get presentation from Government and private universities regarding issue.

Any institute fulfilling criteria and guidelines could be developed as world class institute. In a world class institute, students from foreign countries will also be admitted and NAAC accreditation within five year is compulsory. There should be atleast 20,000 students enrollment in 15 years. There should be moderate and world class library and a teacher on 10 students.

Recently, UGC invited public comments on draft guidelines and regulations for the establishment of world class institutions. According to UGC, it aims to establish ten world class institutions each in public and private sector in the given time by providing an enabling regulatory environment that allows them to achieve the highest levels of global excellence in teaching and research. The Commission said, guidelines and regulations will be finalised after considering the views and suggestions through public consultations.

UGC said, while a Government institution is declared as a world class institution which is free to choose its path and to become a world class institution, it should compulsorily satisfy several criterias within a reasonable pre-determined time frame from the date of notification declaration.

According to UGC, a world class institute should preferably be multi-disciplinary and have both teaching and research focus of an exceptionally high quality. Apart from the regular courses, it should also offer various inter-disciplinary courses, including in the areas of emerging technology and interest as well as those of relevance to the development concerns of countries like India.

UGC said, world class institute should be a reasonably good mix of domestic and foreign students and there should be a transparent merit based selection in admissions, so that the focus remains on getting meritorious students.

Admission process should be blind need so that once a student gets admission purely on merit, such meritorious students should not be turned away for lack of financial ability, and faculty student ratio should not be less than 1:10 after three years of declaration as a World Class Institution. There should be laboratory facilities that do cutting-edge scientific research for those Institutions engaged in scientific research.